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U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

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11–20 of 181 posts

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#13
This is already mandatory for cars sold in Europe for some years, it's really no big deal. Before that it wasn't mandatory, but I think it was required the be able to get a 5 star safety rating (which all brands want) so it was very common even before it was mandatory.

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#14
post #12

All this technology has the effect of pushing up the cost of vehicles, often for questionable minor safety improvements. Is there a good analysis of why the road safety trend has gone the wrong way in the US lately?

This is protectionism for the voting block in Detroit. You'll see this sort of thing every 4 years.

I'm guessing patents and the like have already decided who the winner of this rule is and it probably isn't automobile buyers in the US.

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#15
post #12

All this technology has the effect of pushing up the cost of vehicles, often for questionable minor safety improvements. Is there a good analysis of why the road safety trend has gone the wrong way in the US lately?

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/27/upshot/road-deaths-pedest...

I can't link the graph directly because it doesn't display the text, ctrl-f "Change in U.S. road deaths since 1994" to see it

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#16
post #12

All this technology has the effect of pushing up the cost of vehicles, often for questionable minor safety improvements. Is there a good analysis of why the road safety trend has gone the wrong way in the US lately?

This is protectionism for the voting block in Detroit. You'll see this sort of thing every 4 years. I'm guessing patents and the like have already decided who the winner of this rule is and it probably isn't automobile buyers in the US.

It’s matching European standards after years of American roads becoming deadlier while the rest of the world is getting safer. I wouldn’t read anything more into it than “we’d like fewer dead people on our roads”.

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#17
post #5

Do U.S. people really benefit from this kind of restriction from the Government? Seems like they are pawing their way into our property to empower themselves with all kinds of precedents.

I don't get the downvotes, it's a valid question imho. For example in France in 2012 they made it mandatory for every car to have 2 alcohol tests (the dumb ones, you blow in it changes color if you're above a certain threshold).

A good idea right ? it's pretty cheap too no ?

It turned out that the lobbyists who pushed for it were also invested in the company manufacturing 90% the alcohol tests for the french market.

https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2012/06/27/01016-20...

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#18
post #15
post #12

All this technology has the effect of pushing up the cost of vehicles, often for questionable minor safety improvements. Is there a good analysis of why the road safety trend has gone the wrong way in the US lately?

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/27/upshot/road-deaths-pedest... I can't link the graph directly because it doesn't display the text, ctrl-f "Change in U.S. road deaths since 1994" to see it

I’d also add https://www.ghsa.org/resources/news-releases/pedestrians-pre...

> A combination of factors creates this deadly situation for people walking on U.S. roadways. A steep drop in traffic enforcement across the country since 2020 has enabled dangerous driving behaviors – including speeding and driving impaired – to flourish. At the same time, roads are largely designed to prioritize fast-moving vehicle traffic instead of slower speeds that are safer for people walking. Many parts of the country lack infrastructure – such as sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting – that help protect people on foot. The U.S. vehicle fleet is increasingly dominated by larger, heavier vehicles that are more likely to injure or kill people walking.

I think the pause on enforcement a lot of police departments did after the George Floyd protests is a contributing factor to that first point: it’s not just that the worst drivers realized that they could do whatever they want after buying some fake plates on Facebook[1] but that other drivers start feeling like suckers for still following the rules. I wouldn’t say the drivers here were ever great but they used to at least stop for the red light in front of the neighborhood elementary school.

1. This was incredibly blatant - clearly neither Facebook nor police were interested in doing anything about it. A local cyclist spent a few minutes looking and found tons of sellers:

https://tomlee.wtf/2023/02/03/fake-tags-are-a-real-problem/

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#19
post #17
post #5

Do U.S. people really benefit from this kind of restriction from the Government? Seems like they are pawing their way into our property to empower themselves with all kinds of precedents.

I don't get the downvotes, it's a valid question imho. For example in France in 2012 they made it mandatory for every car to have 2 alcohol tests (the dumb ones, you blow in it changes color if you're above a certain threshold). A good idea right ? it's pretty cheap too no ? It turned out that the lobbyists who pushed for it were also invested in the company manufacturing 90% the alcohol tests for the french market.…

It’s the weird conspiratorial tone (see their other comments). There’s a century of precedent for safety equipment and from a privacy perspective this is a non-issue – I’d be far more concerned with data from things like OnStar which actually connect to a network or LPRs. There could be a good conversation about privacy and costs but I doubt it can start from that point.

I would also note that you can find the same general comments, almost word for word except the stuff about COVID restrictions, said about antilock brakes, seatbelts, daytime running lights, airbags, etc. Some people have an instinctive reaction to oppose any new requirement.

Re: U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years

#20
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is protectionism for the voting block in Detroit. You'll see this sort of thing every 4 years. I'm guessing patents and the like have already decided who the winner of this rule is and it probably isn't automobile buyers in the US.

It’s matching European standards after years of American roads becoming deadlier while the rest of the world is getting safer. I wouldn’t read anything more into it than “we’d like fewer dead people on our roads”.

Wait, which directive mandates auto-braking?
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